I’m very excited to share the thirteenth episode of the Woolful podcast. Today we get to meet two amazing women who’ve focused their lives and businesses on sustainability and helping bring awareness to what you live and make with, Sasha Duerr of Permacouture and Jocelyn Tunney of O-Wool.

Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Fancy Tiger Crafts, a beautiful yarn shop based out of Denver, Colorado, who recently launched their online shop, fancytigercrafts.com. They have an amazing selection of fabrics and yarns, including their own Heirloom Romney Yarn, which is grown, milled and dyed here in the US. Make sure to visit Fancy Tiger Crafts in person when in Denver and online at fancytigercrafts.com.

Fiber folk 1: Jocelyn is a very special entrepreneur who’s had a unique fiber journey that led her to own and build O-Wool, a wonderful yarn company that focuses on sustainable and organic fibers, including a certified organically grown and processed, machine washable yarn. You can find Jocelyn at O-Wool.com and on Instagram @owool.

Man on the street: For this week’s “Man on the Street” I changed it up a bit and asked a handful of fiber enthusiasts to ask me a question and I’d answer one. Brienne Moody asked a great question about time management, how to make time for making, but also planning and reflecting on what you’re creating.

Fiber folk 2: Our next guest, Sasha Duerr has a background rich in permaculture, regenerative design and thoughtful making and consuming that has been a huge inspiration to me ever since I came across her “Seasonal Color Wheel” which is a beautifully painted color wheel poster which illustrates the palette of natural dyes available from seasonal plants common to the bay area, based on mordants used and time of year. You can find this color wheel for sale at interfaceartgallery.com. You can find Sasha at permacouture.org and on Instagram @sashaduerr.

Giveaway: The winner of last week’s giveaway, is Leslie Eaton! You’ve won a skein of Hole and Sons yarn and a pair of Brittany double point needles. Congratulations!

This week’s giveaway is sponsored by O-Wool, and we’re giving away three skeins of O-Wool’s Local, a gorgeous organic merino and alpaca blend yarn, so you can make Jocelyn’s Blue Bell Hill Scarf Pattern. To enter this giveaway, leave a comment below.

This week we’re beginning the March Woolful Knitalong. I have been waiting weeks to start on this and am so excited March is here! We’ll be knitting the Moto Vest, designed by Shelli Westcott, owner of Knitterly and creator of Radius Yarns. This vest is so simple and versatile in both design and materials and I can’t wait to see all the lovely vests you knit. Later today I’ll be posting all the details about this knit along on both the blog and Ravelry, so stay tuned for some words from Shelli and myself.

Oh yippeee!! glad your lil guy is feeling well enough for you to post the podcast!
………….and I just read that I’m the very proud winner of the giveaway!! woah hoaa! (really enjoyed the Hole and Sons podcast…and will use the yarn and needles with fond memories of listening to his story!)

Sooooo looking forward to this week’s episode! I purchased a sweater’s worth of “local” from Owool at Rhinebeck this past fall. We live in NJ and “local” is 50% alpaca…sourced in a town that we frequent : Lambertville! Very excited to hear all about Jocelyn’s journey!!

I listen and I learn, and I look forward to each and every episode. Those you highlight and interview are living my dream, and I love hearing about their journey. Thank you for a unique experience with each episode.

As an arts educator at a textile museum, Sasha’s approach to thinking about textiles in a holistic way really resonated with me — the intersection between fibre, food, culture and community are what I strive to highlight in the tours and programs that I facilitate. LIke Jocelyn, working with textiles in my day job does not diminish my need to knit and spin and sew in my free time!

AS A FORMER VERMONT ORGANIC GARDENER AND SHEPHERDESS WHO ACTIVELY UTILIZED A PERMACULTURE PRACTICE,I FOUND MYSELF NODDING MY HEAD IN NOT ONLY AGREEMENT BUT ADMIRATION AS WELL.WHAT WE SO PROACTIVELY PURSUED AND ARDENTLY STUDIED IN THE 1960S HAS ONCE AGAIN TAKEN ROOT WITH DEEP NOURISHING RUNNERS.SO APPRECIATE YOUR ENCOURAGING WORDS CONCERNING TIME MANAGEMENT ,WHICH ULTIMATELY DIRECTS OUR PLAN AND PROGRESS.EACH INTERVIEW IS RICH AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING.THANK YOU.

Another lovely podcast! Thanks for the chance to win! (And I would LOVE to know what pattern the shawl the lovely blond woman from Fancy Tiger Crafts is wearing, it’s so pretty. I checked the pattern on their website and couldn’t find it…)

Another great episode – as always! I especially liked this week’s Man on the Street. I think you hit the nail on the head – there is no single right solution to time management, but rather an ever-changing fine balance only you can find for yourself. And another great give away this week! Thank you Ashley!

I’m so glad I got turned on to this podcast! I just started selling OWool in my shop in Philly and love all the yarn Jocelyn produces. So excited to keep listening and learning. Ashley, the work you do speaks my heart. Keep on Keeping on!

I thoroughly enjoyed both podcasts. Joceyln’s story resonated with me as a fellow Skiddie, a school which encouraged me to develop my creativity and individualness. I loved hearing how she found her way from college to o-wool. Sasha passion and work drives home how interconnected our environment is to our food, fiber, and consumption choices. Two very different and very inspiring fiber folk that remind me this community is so cool because the possibilities are endless!

I listen on the edge of my seat as your guests discover and uncover healthy, safe and beautiful sources and methods of producing dyes and yarn. I’m in my 60’s and have experimented with these endeavors for thirty years. Your interviewees reinvigorate my interest weekly. As for O-Wool, love it. I discovered it (Balance, specifically) five years ago when the quantity I bought was steeply discounted and I was told it was permanently discontinued. I’ve made an adult size sweater, two little girl’s skirts and one little girl’s dress from that purchase . So glad this line is still going!!! I see many more pieces in my future.

I’m so relieved O-Wool is still around. A long time ago, my LYS told me it was being discontinued, but I suppose she must have meant it wasn’t being carried in LYSes anymore. How I missed it online, I’ll never know, but HALLELUJAH. One of my favorite fibers is still around!

I’m loving this knitting and fiber community! already I am learning so much and just keep getting more and more motivated to improve my skills and expand my knowledge as a knitter! Thank you for this site!!

I have admired O-Wool for some time and am so excited to listen to this week’s episode! As a senior in high school that is textile obsessed, I find Jocelyn’s textile engineering background to be fascinating. Too bad their are no textile engineering programs here in Canada, but I hope to encounter the field at some point in my life.

I am a very new knitter. I would have no idea how to join a color or read a pattern but those colors refreshed my heart – this has been a bitterly cold winter for so many. Just looking at them made me smile. Love your podcast – it is a weekly treat for me!

Living in Philadelphia has the many privileges of having places like O-Wool. I love her fibers especially “Local”. The podcast was just wonderful because it gave insight(s) and perspective(s) of the owner of O-Wool and her many journeys travelled before taking ownership of O-Wool. I only wonder if the owner considers that the sheep are not sold for its meat. I believe in karma so what I knit will be of good spirit.

I came here looking for your podcast on the topic of superwash wool and the environmental impact of the process. I would love to knit the Blue Bells Hill scarf! I thought O-Wool was no more. Am tickled to see it still exists.

It has been so great to listen to your podcasts! I’m have been wanting to start my own blog about knitting and hearing all these stories has given me such a boost to try to finally get it online. Thank you for a great source of information and inspiration! And what a lovely scarf, would definitely like to try some O-Wool!

I discovered O Wool not long ago from their ad banner on Ravelry. I was SOOOO excited when I went to jocelyn’s website to find that they are based out of Philadelphia. They are in my backyard. I can’t wait to try out some of her yarn.

I was looking for certified organic wool yarns in 2001 and actually spent some time on the phone with one of the founders of O-Wool, and it’s fascinating how different the industry is now. The internet has made searching for them so much easier, and it’s very interesting to hear from the new owner.

Just last night I was doing research on natural dyes and came across Sasha Duerr on YouTube, then this morning listened to this episode of Woolful and a few minutes into her segment thought, “Hmm, I think this sounds a bit familiar…” Love the big beautiful small world of the textile community.

I especially enjoyed this week’s podcast. Although I am happy with my biology degree, listening to this podcast did indeed make me daydream about signing up for college courses in textiles. Fortunately, there are great informal places to learn about fiber crafts- including this website.

O-wool is definitely on my list of dream yarn to try!!! Loved hearing about the business aspects of the fiber industry. I’m a recent business graduate and I am keeping my eyes and ears open for opportunities in the fiber industry.

Your podcast is so inspiring, educational, relaxing, and just plain interesting. Because of all the interviews you have done, I have returned my commercial “thick and quick” yarn and now am looking to try a “real” yarn made with thoughtful intention and integrity. O-wool would be wonderful to start with!

Would you mind describing the difference between woolen and worsted spun? It has been mentioned on more than one podcast. Also, you might consider a buyer’s guide podcast with the questions one should ask when purchasing yarn (ex. breed, staple length, dye materials, how spun, where grown, processed, etc. etc. ) You can tell I am new to all this and it is overwhelming at times! I really want to make thoughtful, knowledgable decisions and will have to purchase over the internet.
Thanks again!

What a great giveaway! I love O-wool and all she’s doing for the sustainable living/mindful knitting side of life. It’s exactly how I’ve been trying to approach my choices for many many years. It’s such a pleasure to listen. Thank you!

What a wonderful podcast! I love your soothing voice, really makes me slow down and appreciate whatever it is I am doing. The interviews are great, so many varied backgrounds and journeys, yet they are all so relatable. I did not know o-wool was a one woman shop, so very exciting to learn all about her and her company. It is so fantastic to learn about all the different people and companies you feature, makes me more mindful of who and what I am supporting.

I haven’t gotten a chance to listen to this episode yet but I’m excited to hear about the process of making eco-friendly machine washable wool. I’ve admired the Blue Bell Hill scarf for a while, I’d love to win the wool and pattern to make it!

As always, this episode was inspiring and thought-provoking. I love the idea of thinking of regenerative urban spaces. I’m already thinking of ways to bring that frame of mind to the outdoor spaces at my kids’ school, where I devote volunteer hours to the garden and outdoor program. It’s like a little oasis in an urban area.
Thank you for bringing such inspiring guests to your podcast and your thoughtful interview style.

Another amazing podcast! Can’t tell you enough how much I enjoy and savor each Woolful episode! Enjoyed Sasha’s connection of permaculture to yarn. Thanks too for a chance to win another lovely give away! Best to you..

This was a lovely podcast, listened it on my way back to cold Toronto. I went hunting for all sorts of local yarn in New Orleans, but the scene definitely lacks the ‘local’ and natural/organic’ yarns. The shops were also quite small, in comparison to what we have here. Would love to get my hands on o-wool thought, so nice!

Hi! I just started listening to your podcast and i found them very inspiring! I’m from Montréal (québec Canada) and I’ve got to take a 3 hour bus ride to go to my university, those hours are very special to because i can focus on my knitting. Ive know started to add your podcast to my roadtrip-knitting ritual!
I wanted to thank for making my finer journey a little bit richer!
Merci beaucoup!
Ps: Sorry for my poor writing i’m french…

I’ve lately become more conscious about what I’m wearing and how I contribute to consumer culture. I’ll be listening as soon as I can set aside a chunk of time! This episode sounds super interesting! (Also, the o-wool is super pretty…and that scarf pattern is great!)

This week’s podcast was so great, thank you O-Wool and all for participating.
And that scarf <3
It seems I am usually in the minority by generally not being in love with striped scarves, but that Blue Bell has won me over for sure!

My spongey mind cannot saturate with discovery. Finding you is wonderful, inspiring, and homey. Where else can a nature loving, obsessive knitting girl from Northern CA, living in Idaho find kin but on Instagram? Hallelujah interwebs!

Anyhoo. Loving the podcast, the hopalong yer gettalong KNITalong now little dawgies, and your polished look. Congrats on getting the whole thing up and off the ground. Are you more in CA or ID? Will enjoy your work wherever you are, and hope to see you somewhere, someday.

I am very new with knitting. On a recent visit in Philadelphia, I visited Rosie’s Cellar and heard about o-yarns. What beautiful colors and texture. How exciting to see the scarf in photo. thx for the opportunity to participate + thx for this charming local fiber!!!!